Journaling is a wonderful means to express ourselves and can be very therapeutic. Many psychologists even recommend it to people as it enables us to clear our minds and refocus ourselves. This article will give you some useful tips to take into consideration so that you can finally get yourself going and start journaling.
Keep it private
A journal is a platform for yourself where you can express yourself and your deepest feelings. It has nothing to do with any other person in your life and sometimes it is better not to wave a private thing like this in people’s faces because it makes them curious. Store the journal in a safe area where you know it will not be easily found. Make a point of putting it away after using it every time and never leave it lying around.
Find what works for you
Journaling is for you only and you need to find out what works for you. If you do not want to journal every day, perhaps once a week or once every 3 days is enough for you. You don’t have to write in full sentences if you don’t want to, just as long as you know what you are trying to say. Some people also prefer journaling on apps. These apps come with password protection and since it will be on your phone, it means you can journal whenever you have a moment free, even if it is only for a few minutes. Other people prefer the feel of a real book and the touch of pen to paper. This is perfectly fine, and it is good to explore the different options to see what works for you.
Do not limit yourself to just writing
Many people also draw or paint in their journals. Journals are all about expressing yourself and your thoughts after all, and if you feel like you are able to do this better by drawing or even writing a poem then that is brilliant. Journaling is connecting to yourself and you are free to do this in any way that you choose.
Reminders/prompts
The main problem with journaling is that people usually start forgetting about it or the day becomes long and they run out of time. They then push journaling away and say they will do it ‘later’, just to fall out of habit and forget about doing it again. Set a reminder on your phone and follow through with it. If you are busy, give yourself that 30 minutes to journal and then you can continue with life. Sometimes after journaling, you will find that your mind is clearer and less messy and that you are able to concentrate even better on the things you are working on.
Have fun
As much as journaling is therapeutic and can even lower rates of depression, it is also meant as a means to have fun. Enjoy writing in your journal, drawing in it, writing a poem and expressing yourself to yourself. This is not supposed to become another job or thing to just tick off your list. This is a means of understanding our own head and heart and spending time with the person we oftentimes neglect, ourselves.
